The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-25
DOGS AND SLEDGES.
HOW Tie ESKIMO DRIVER NAN.
ACES Hi3 TEAM Or DOGS.

The Long sicds Of the Einns patoos-?at-
terms in Jse by the Traders OF ham-
ohataa ard AIaska-Sorthcrn Siberia
The YccIintock Model.
Eskimo docs have each q harness with
loops that pass around the neck and I'M
der each leg, uniting on the back and
fastened % a long trace 81 scalskin about
a third Of an inch wide. TIE traces are
~ various lengths, 30 that when hitchcd
90 the sled the dogs can spread out like n
fan. They are guided by the voice Of the
CTivcr. whose commands are enforced
with q whip. the handle Of which IS about
eighteen inches IN length, aud the lash
from eighteen 10 thirty feet long The
doIs FEB Siberia are harnessel in poirs On
ci,acr side Of long line Of walrus skin
and ere trained 90 obey the drivers voice.
The driver controls the movements Of Che
Sled with % stout stick shol With iron,
which hc uses as q brake
I'm crossing rough Zoe the Einncna'0o
l'skimo- Of Hudson Bay, use sled i0ut
eighteen inches wide and from thirty TO
forty feet long This is intended 90 ride
across The lumm0cks with % much stcad-
Ter motion tnan short Sled. which IS
constantly pitching about, and. under uch
circumstances. very hard 90 draw and exc
trcmdy difficult To handle The long
slcds Of the kinnepatoos glide very
smoothly and rapidly over rough ice, and
are easily managed. They are made with
solid plank runners, sometimes spliced TO
secure greater length, aud are shod with
moss and iced
IN siDEnM And ALASKA.
The Russian traders aud settlers il
Kamtchatka and Alaska have several pat
terms Of sleds The one upon which heavy
loads are drawn is q trcstlework Of strong
wood dashed with rawh.dc thongs. II is
very light. runs smoothly and is not easily
broken 40 pctrOpaul0v-ki in KANT
chatka, J also procured small Sled q
oasketwork, which was made somewhat
n the shape of % large saddle. with very
high p0mmcl nn' Group. II is Gc gncd 10
carry one person only, who SITS astride of
it and rests his oet 0n the runners This
can Doe used only for light work and 90
short rapid journeys. for .t has 100 place
wherein 10 carry amy load
Tho sled used by the tribes 100 Northern
Siberia combines the cNceHcucics az the
long sled of the Ninncpmoo-, the trcst.e-
work sled of The Russian traders AND Che
Mclmfock sled, used by mostly ali Brit
i-h explorers It's made wish Shin broad
runners Of wood shcd with strips of jaw
bone of the whale or sort Of hard drift
wood found on the northeastern coast Of
Siberia The bed or platform is ,up-
ported 10y uprights let into and dashed 10
runners
TIE MCIIVTOCK SLED.
The Sled most approved by modern *
rlorcre of Arctic North America is known
as 'thc McClutock Sled. " and was de-
signed and used by Admiral Sir Leopold
McClutock, of the Royal navy. on all his
Arctic Journeys. IL is made with runners
O, hard wood, With uprghts and cross
pieces Of the same material m0rtIscd and
riNeted. and the runners shOd with hoop
iron are bent mp front and rear so that
the sled can Doe drawn equally Vcll with
either end m front. Ny experience with
eled- ol this pattern has been ihat though
PERHAPS. excellent where mea arc ueeo ll
/ tle harness. they are not good dog slcds
/ They are also liable ~ break where the
lN.llN4 rIItlu l0 llfNN 'i tl' l'nl tF 'ti't 90 u
me mortsed together therefore their use
Us got advisable on long journeys
besides the yar.ou, slcas already cc-
/ scr.hcd. ] have seen musk 0A. reindeer
/ bear and seal skins temporarily used for
/ THAT purpose. and after the SNOW melted
and the floods subsidcd n Central Siberia
J have also enjoyed rest for my weary
/ limbs ON heavy sicds drawn by bulls over
tlomuGdy and slippery land With such
/ % large variety t0 choose from. ] have no
hesitation iu expressing my unqualified
preference for an purposes of hard work
u the land of ice and SHOW for the
Tchouktchs drftwoOd slcds both large
| and small. which combine the greatest
amount of strength ana elasticity with
the least weight. while at the same time
/ they are less likely TO bc broken, and
when broken. more readily repaired than
any others have used or seen. The
model can scarcely be improved upon, bat
| the driftwOOd used by those poor sayaces
in the absence Of other material might
adyantageously be replaced with tough
young hickory or other woods from more
/ temperate climates William ii Glider,